Kristina’s Story
Kristina’s area of interest with the DIR therapeutic model (floortime) is one close to her heart. It began with finding one of her children to have developmental difference and needing interventions which could not be found easily within the local therapeutic systems currently in place. After a great deal of research; Kristina found a model that worked (and continues to work) wonders for their child. Kristina along with her husband, Darren Stroh, sought out the services of Stanley Greenspan, M.D. They have been and continue to receive training from the DIR Support Services center in Bethesda, Maryland by Jake Greenspan and Tim Bleecker.
Further research enabled them to find a wonderful Occupational Therapist, Gretchen McDonnell, who began working with the family. Gretchen, too, saw the potential for gain in their child. It was an amazing experience. Not only did she intrinsically believe what they believed regarding the power of learning through play; she saw what they saw in their child. Hope had been restored and wonderful things began to happen. Gretchen McDonnell has, and continues to, receive training under the DIR Model with Jake Greenspan and Tim Bleecker.
Gretchen’s Story
Gretchen was first introduced to floortime therapy as an occupational therapist intern in a pediatric sensory integration clinic. At the time, and in that geographic area of the country, floortime was more accepted and used as a treatment model. After moving to Delaware and starting to work with children who had developmental differences she felt that a key piece of development was missing in these kids; the children were receiving services but seemed to lack curiosity, play, and enjoyment. When she found that parents were also interested and eager to have their children involved in sensory integration therapy Gretchen decided to continue using the skills in which she had been trained and treat kids following a SI and DIR model.
One day, Gretchen received a telephone call from a mother of a child describing the services she wanted for her child. Kristina was very open and accepting and offered to provide training in the DIR model with one of the DIR experts, Jake Greenspan. A relationship developed where Gretchen provided sensory integration based occupational therapy and Kristina excelled in providing home based floortime therapy. After watching her child succeed and become playful, engaged, and fun, Kristina approached Gretchen to open a center where more children could be reached.
This is how we began, this is “why we are”. We hope that the parents and children we meet during their own individual journeys will continue down this road with us. Our wish is to share our experiences with parents and families who are in most need, during their struggles and joys to provide for their children the very best in life. With the right therapies in the right model, with loving hopeful parents, all things are possible. We look forward to meeting you.
All the Difference.
